Better Separate?

The Clove Island capital area spans several villages— to get to any of these villages it is the same taxi fare of less than a dollar per person. We’ve never owned a car on the island, partially because the taxi system is easy to use and relatively inexpensive. But while several villages feel close to us, because we are in the center of the circle, it doesn’t mean individual villages are close to each other.

Tom at a ceremony for a small English program

When we think about our island brothers and sisters in the capital area, the biggest two concentrations are in a town to the east of the capital and in a town west of the capital. For almost two years, these individuals have been committed to being together every Sunday. But it has started getting difficult. For us, we can get to either of them with the same low taxi fare, although sometimes taxis refuse to pick you up when you tell them where you’re going because they are on the outer edges of that fare. So we may have to wait, but inevitably, a taxi will come willing to take us to our destination.  But our brothers and sisters end up having to catch two taxis (and pay two fares)—one to the capital and then another to the neighboring town. This might not seem like such a big deal, but times have been hard on island families and the extra expense adds up (especially with those with kids having to pay per person). Also there is the time involved— taxis are notoriously hard to find on Sunday afternoons and that is when they are usually heading home after meeting together. The hardship of the travel has been draining on the group, with each not excited when the gathering is in the opposite location. This has prompted them to wrestle with the idea of separating and being two smaller groups each Sunday in their two towns.

Small program, but they like big gatherings!

There was an African brother on the islands who once shared with us his vision of what could happen on the islands— a big building, with a band, good music and a huge congregation meeting every Sunday. As he described it, it sounded a lot like what you see in his home country, where big gatherings are seen as a good thing. Islanders like big gatherings too. The more the merrier!

There is no saying that such big gatherings won’t someday be a reality on the islands, but it seems unlikely in the near future. So our vision has always been about lots of small groups of islanders meeting in their own villages, most likely in people’s homes, hopefully in every village and impacting their communities. So for us, this splitting of the group seems like it could be a good thing— encouraging people to be more focused in their own towns and making it easier for people to come faithfully each week. But it comes with trepidation, are they big enough to keep going if they separate?  Will each location still have the critical mass to make their meetings feel alive and vibrant? Will they lose their sense of community by separating?

As a family, we prefer being together than separated

That’s where prayer comes in. Praying that they know when and how to meet as a big group and when to separate and that in either case their community would thrive and grow. Because ultimately, whether the groups are big or small, the hope is that there would be a true sense of community, of caring for one another and encouraging each other in prayer, study, and growing in the truth. May we all have such communities!

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are thankful that our pregnant colleague is getting quality care in mainland Africa— they found that she had malaria, dengue and a bacterial infection all at the same time. She will most likely still give birth early, but thankfully she is now in a place that can care for both her and the baby whenever that happens.  We had a good first week with all our kids at home with some good family time. Mtsa has told Tom that he has accepted the good news and repented of his old ways. We rejoice in this decision. Please pray that it would be proven genuine by a changed life and continuing desire to learn and grow.

PRAYRS REQUESTED
Different health concerns have been depleting the numbers at gatherings. Pray for healing for all of those suffering and for wisdom for those traveling for treatment. Pray that gatherings would continue to happen and for a clear way forward for the groups in 2025. Our island sister on the small island has had a new threat from a religious teacher from a different village— pray for peace and protection for her and her children and for a change of heart in this man. We have some ideas for celebrating the holidays, pray for us as we talk and invite people to celebrate with us. It is really hot and humid. Pray for stamina and energy during the hot season.